The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has criticised the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for giving social housing landlords access to a helpline offering advice on Universal Credit, which it says discriminates against private sector landlords.
Social housing published 24Dash.com reports that the helpline will advise social landlords who have tenants on Universal Credit in arrears with their rent.
The RLA also claims that private sector landlords are being disadvantaged because the DWP has also given social housing landlords access to information on claims and the arrears history of tenants in receipt of Universal Credit, under a data sharing agreement.
Private landlords do not have access to this information.
Chairman of the RLA, Alan Ward, said:
“Growing numbers of tenants on Housing Benefit are looking to the private rented sector for a home to live in.
“It is vital therefore that landlords are given all the support needed to encourage them to accept such tenants.
“The news that the government’s Universal Credit helpline cannot be used by private sector landlords will do little to provide such confidence – and cause many to consider if renting to benefit claimants is worth the risk.
“We are calling on the government to recognise the damage they may be doing to the choices available to tenants on benefit, and end the discrimination against the private rented sector.”
It has also been revealed that social housing landlord First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) is piloting a scheme with the DWP, which would make it easier for the housing cost element of Universal Credit to be paid directly to social landlords.
The “Trusted Partner Status” pilot would allow FCHO to identify tenants whom they believe would struggle to meet their rental payments.
In such cases, the DWP would automatically redirect payments to FCHO.
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